Ore-collecting member for removing magnetizable particles from ore



March 1, 1960 R. P. McNAUGHT 2,926,784

ORE-COLLECTING MEMBER FOR REMOVING MAGNETIZABLE PARTICLES FROM ORE Filed May 13, 1957 INVENTOR. ROBERT F! M NAUGHT BY M/f' ATTORNEYS Unite It is a well-known fact in the mining art that ores containing precious metals, such as gold, are found in nature along with various magnetizable particles, for instance iron. These magnetizable particles must be separated from the precious components of the ore.

Various processes, such as froth flotation, have been developed for the segregation of the minerals in the ore into concentrates containing the valuable minerals, and the tailings containing the gangue components of the ore. However, the magnetizable particles must still be removed from the valuable concentrates.

As the cardinal object of my invention, it is proposed to provide a relatively simple ore-collecting member, which is adapted for removing the magnetizable particles from the ore concentrates. Of course, I do not wish to be limited to using my ore-collecting member to the froth flotation process.

Another object of the invention is to provide an orccollecting member which is buoyant in an aqueous liquid and having permanent magnets carried thereby, these magnets being disposed to attract the magnetizable particles to the member. A number of these members may be placed in a liquid containing the ore. As each member attracts magnetizable particles thereto, its weight will be increased to a point where it will sink. Subsequently, the members may be transferred from the liquid, and the magnetizable particles removed from the members, whereupon the latter may be used again.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features will be set forth in the appended claims.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken through a flotation cell, and illustrating a pair of my ore-collecting members disposed therein;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through a mold, and disclosing the method of making the ore-collecting member shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a modified form of my ore-collecting member, partly in section; and

Figure 4 illustrates a further modification of my orecollecting member, partly in section, and showing the mold wherein it is formed.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring to the drawing in detail, I have shown a portion of a froth flotation machine, which is indicated generally at A. This machine has been selected only for the purpose of disclosing the function and operation of my ore-collecting members B.

Such a froth flotation machine is well known in the art, and it defines an open-top cell or vessel C in which a body of liquid D is disposed. The liquid includes water, oils or fats, and various chemicals, depending upon the type of ore being processed. The ore pulp is conducted through the cell C in a continuous process, while agitating and aerating the pulp, usually in the bottom portion C States Patent of the cell, while establishing a quiescent zone in the upper portion C thereof.

The body of liquid D includes froth-producing compounds, which result in forming a froth layer E at the top portion of the liquid. it is well known that the machine A introduces air in the form of fine bubbles throughout the ore pulp. The valuable minerals are carried upwardly by the combined action of agitation and the lifting effect of the froth column, as suggested by the arrow 10 in Figure 1. The bubbles collect in the froth layer E, and the valuable minerals are collected in the quiescent zone as concentrates. The latter are removed by skimming or by overflowing the froth from the flotation cell C. The gangue materials remain in the body of the pulp and are removed as a tailing product.

The froth layer B contains magnetizable particles F, such as iron, which must be separated from the valuable concentrates; This separation is accomplished by my ore-collecting members B, the details of which will now be set forth.

As shown in Figure 1, each of the ore-collecting members B is formed from a pair of hemispherical shells B and B which are identical with one another and are fashioned from non-magnetizable material, such as aluminum, plastic, rubber, etc. The shells are sealed together by suitable bonding material 11 disposed along their abutting rims 11, thus producing a sealed sphere.

It will be noted that a plurality of permanent magnets 12 are disposed on the interior of each of the shells B and B and adjacent to the latter. These magnets are spaced from each other and dispersed over the entire surface of the shells. With respect to each pair of adjacent magnets, the adjacent ends are of opposite polarity, as suggested by N and Sin Figure 2. The magnets are disposed for attracting the magnetizable particles F contained in the liquid D and froth E, when the member B is placed therein.

For the purpose of anchoring the magnets in place on the interiors of the shells B and B 1 provide a layer of suitable material 14, such as plaster of Paris. In order to maintain the magnets in proper relation with one another, during the application of the material 14, which is essential, I make use of a mold G. The latter is in the shape of an open-top container (see Figure 2).

Within the mold G there is placed a body of iron filings 15; and then one of the hemispherical shells, such as B is pressed down into these iron filings. Thereafter, the permanent magnets 12 are placed on the interior of the shell and arranged in the manner shown in Figure 2. Of course, the fields established by these magnets will extend into the iron filings 15, and this will result in holding the magnets up against the interior of the shell. If desired, a block of iron could be used in lieu of the mold G and the filings 15, with this block having a cavity in its upper surface shaped to receive the hemispherical shell.

With the permanent magnets 12 being thus held in proper position relative to each other, a layer of the material 14 is placed over the magnets. When this material sets, the hemispherical shell (B or B may be removed from the mold G. Thereafter, two of these shells are secured together by the bonding material 11' so as to complete a sphere.

The ore-collecting members B may be made buoyant in an aqueous liquid. When these members are placed in the body of liquid D, their magnets 12 will attract the magnetizable particles F of the ground ore so that they will adhere to the outer surfaces of the members B.

Referring to Figure 1, member B at the right-hand side of this view has just been placed in the liquid D, while the member B at the left-hand side of this same view has collected a considerable amount of the magnetizable particles F on its outer surface and has started to sink.

The buoyance of each member B is such that a collection of a predetermined quantity of the particles F on the member will increase its weight and cause it to sink, with the magnetizable particles still adhering thereto.

Thereafter, the members B may be removed from the cell C, carrying the coatings of the magnetizable particles F therewith. These particles may be removed from the members and the latter used again in the cell.

Reference is made to Figure 3, wherein a modified form of an ore-collecting member B has been illustrated. This member includes the hemispherical shells B and B as previously mentioned, which are joined together at their rims 11 by the bonding material 11'. As shown, the shell B in Figure 3 is provided with a plurality of the permanent magnets 12, which are held in place on the interior thereof by the layer of material 14. However, the magnets have been omitted from the shell B in Figure 3, and a somewhat thicker layer 14 of plaster of Paris, plastic, or rubber has been applied to the interior of the shell B Thus the magnets 12. are placed in a restricted area on one side of the member 3 which is defined by the hemispherical shell B The member B is weighted on its opposite side due to the thicker layer of the material 14 on the interior of the shell B t will be apparent that when the member B is first placed in the liquid D that it will roll until the weighted side B is disposed on the underneath side of the member.

As the liquid D is agitated, the member B will roll about and the magnetizable particles P will begin to collect on the magnetized side B of the member. This magnetic area is sufiiciently large as to attract enough magnetizable particles P thereto as that the member will become inverted, thus occupying the position shown in Figure 3.

The surface of the shell B in Figure 3 is distinctly marked by any suitable means. For this purpose the hatching lines 16 indicate the color of red by way of example. Thus, when the member B has been coated with magnetizable particles F to a point where it should be removed from the liquid D, the marking 16 will serve as a telltale.

A further modification is shown in Figure 4, wherein the ore-collecting member B has been disclosed as being molded in the shape of a rubber ball, which may be hollow, if desired. The mold H shown in this view comprises upper and lower dies H and H which may be brought into contacting relation with one another, prior to injecting rubber through an orifice 17. The dies H and H are fashioned with cavities 18a and 18b, respectively, into which the rubber for the member 13* may be injected. These dies are made of metal so that the permanent magnets 32 may be placed in their cavities before the dies are closed for an injection operation. Thus, the magnets 12 will be embedded in the member B near the surface thereof.

It will be quite apparent that a number of the orecollecting members B may be used in the same manner as the members B for the purpose of removing magnetizable particles from the ground ore.

In certain situations, the ore-collecting members may be non-buoyant in an aqueous liquid, and formed from suitable material, such as concrete, rubber, plastic, etc. These non-buoyant members may be placed in liquid containing magnetizable particles, and the latter will be removed from the precious components of the ore.

It will be noted that the ore-collecting members B, B and B are arranged for free movement in the liquid D so that they may move about to thus collect the mag netizable particles F.

Although I do not wish to be confined to any particular shape for the ore-collecting members, I desire to point out the advantage of making them spherical or ball-shaped. A ball has a spherical surface which will contact with the side wall or the bottom of the cell or vessel C at 4- only one point on the ball. if the wall or bottom of the cell were made of iron, the ball would not stick, but would be free to roll and pick up the magnetizable particles.

I claim:

1. A member for removing magnetizable particles from a liquid containing the particles and comprising: a body member adapted to be placed for free movement in the liquid containing the magnetizable particles; and at least one permanent magnet carried by the body member, and being positioned to attract the magnetizable particles to the surface of the body member; the magnet being confined to one side of the body member, and the opposite side of the body member from that of the magnet being weighed; the weighted side being heavy enough to roll the body member until the weighted side is disposed on the underside of the body member, when the latter is initially placed in the liquid; the magnetic area being sufiiciently large to attract enough magnetizable particles thereto so that the member will invert itself to thus present the weighted side uppermost.

2. The member for removing magnetizable particles from a liquid containing the particles, as defined in claim 1; and in which the surface of the body member on its weighted side is distinctly marked to thus serve as a telltale, when this side is disposed uppermost in the liquid.

3. A member for collecting magnetizable particles and comprising: a spherical body adapted to roll about in any direction; and a plurality of spaced-apart permanent magnets carried by the body member, and being positioned to attract the magnetizable particles to the surface of the body member; the permanent magnets being dispersed over the entire spherical surface of the body member; the spehrical surface of the body member being shaped to contact with a substantially fiat surmace at only one point of the body member at a time, whereby the magnets will not prevent the body member from rolling about.

4. A member for removing magnetizable particles from a liquid containing the particles and comprising: a spherical body member adapted to be placed in the liquid for free rolling in any direction; and a plurality of' spaced-apart permanent magnets carried by the body member, and being positioned to attract the magnetizable particles to the surface or" the body member; the spherical surface of the body member being shaped to contact with a wall of a vessel containing the liquid at only one point of the body member at a time, whereby the magnets will not prevent the body member from rolling about.

5. The member for removing magnetizable particles from a liquid containing the particles, as defined in claim 4; and in which the body member is buoyant in an aqueous liquid; the buoyancy of the body member being such that a collection of a predetermined quantity of the magnetizable particles on its surface will cause the body member to sink, with the particles still adhering thereto.

6. The member for removing magnetizable particles from a liquid containing the particles, as set forth in claim 4; and in which the body member defines a hollow shell of non-magnetizable material; the permanent magnets being disposed on the interior of the body member adjacent the latter; and a layer of material covering the magnets and holding them in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,223 Stein Dec. 24, 1912 2,350,534 Rosinger June 6, 1944 2,466,839 Caldwell Apr. 12, 1949 2,518,758 Cook Aug. 15, 1950 2,707,557 Spodig May 3, 1955 

